Even-heat electric iron



Jan, 13. 1925.

1,522,861 L. R. BowLEs EVEN HEAT ELECTRIC IRON` Filed Dec. s, 1921 find Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEROY R. BOWLES, F HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-THIRD T0 PERCY B. MCCABE AND TWO-THIRDS TO HENRY S. CAHN AND B. C. MCCABE, ALL OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

EVEN-HEAT ELECTRIC IRON.

Application led December 8, 1921. Serial No. 520,875

To all whom t may concern: A

Be it known that I, LEROY R. BowLns, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Holl wood, in the county of lLos Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Even-Heat Elec.- tric Irons, of which the Ifollowingis a speelfication.

An object of this invention is to provide an even heat electric iron of simple and satisfactory construction-'in which the current controlling device is mounted external to the smoothing iron proper, but close enough thereto to be controlled by the changes of temperature of the iron without being subjected to the high temperature thereof, and an object is to so construct and arrange the appliance that it can be accurately, adjusted to deliver the current'as required for a predetermined temperature of the iron.

An object is to provide a simple and convenient arrangement for adjusting such spring and ifor holding it in the desired adjustment.

The invention is applicable in various forms and may be constructed with and also without platinum contact points.

Objects are durability of parts and sensitiveness of operation.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detail description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention.

Figure 1 is a broken perspective view of a smoothing iron constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan section of the same taken directly above the'electrical resistance.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section on line indicated at ma, Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a section on line m4, Figs. 2 and 3 on thevscale of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental section illustrating the connection between the handle, the housing and the body of the iron.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section on a reduced scale of the housin detached.

The smoothing-iron bo y 1 may be of any suitable construction provided with electrical resistance 2 by which it is to be heated.

The housing 3 fits upon the body 1, and is detachably secured' thereto by nuts 4, 5, which screw upon stud screws 6 that are inserted through the heat retaining casting a and screwed into the body 1; said nuts 4, 5 hold the handle 7 and the housin 3 in place Aon said smoothing-iron body. 'le housing 3 is provided with a rearward extension 8 forming an insulating air chamber 9 rearwardly of the smoothing-iron body, and said housing terminates in a rearwardly rojccting case 10 having a'floor 11 slightly above the bottom 12 of the smoothing iron.

Said case 10 'is adapted tofcontain the insulating block 13 which is inserted thereinto while the housing is detached; said block rests upon the floor 11 and is provided with holes 14, 15 and 16. Said block may be made of fiber or any other suitable insulating material, and is provided with a seat 17 for a nut 18 to receive a screw 19, which is insertv ed through the hole 14 and through the block and is screwed into said nut to hold the block in place in 'its seat in the housing. Said block is provided with seats 20, 21 for the heads of threaded binding posts 22, 23 having nuts 24. 25 and 26 are conducting plates having threaded apertures 27 through which contact screws 28, 29 are screwed.

Said screws 28, 29 are accessible through the holes 15, 16 respectively. The screw 30 has its head seated in a sea-t 31 in the block and extends through said block and through the conductor 25 and a spacer sleeve 32, and y through the laminated thermostatic contact spring 33 and the resilient spring-holder 34 which is secured in place by the nut- 35 on the screw 30. The screw 30 with the sleeve 32 and nut 35 constitute the supporting post for the thermostatic spring 33. Said post is connected with the body 1 of the iron through insulating block 13, the housing 3 and the rearward extension 8 of such housmg.

The resilient contact holder 34 is so constructed that its tip 36 contacts with the laminated contact spring 33 between said contact-spring and the body of the iron, and tends to press the contact spring away from the body of the iron and toward the Contact post 29; saidl laminated contact spring is preferably provided with a platinum conthe binding .43, then tact point 37, and the contact screw 29 is preferably provided with a platinum oonta'ct point 38.

The floor 11 extends below the lower line of the housing 3 and the resi/stance 2 has a' terminal 40 adapted to be Yconnected to post 22; electrical connection 41 is secured to the binding post 23. The electrodes 42, 43 extend through the housing 3 and are insulated therefrom by insulation 44 in the usual manner and the electrodes 42 is connected with the resistance 2 by the resistance terminal 45. The block 13 is inserted into the case 10 and is secured y the screw 19, then the smoothing iron is brought into position adjacent the block `and housing and the terminal is secured by the nut 24 of the binding post 22, and the electrical connection 41 leading from the binding post 23 is secured to theA electrode the housing 3 may be brought into position on the iron body and secured by the nuts 4, 5.

The temperature adjustment is'made by screwing or un-screwing the adjusting screw 28 and contact screw 29. If the adjustment proves to be such that the iron body l becomes over-heated before the contact between 37 and 38 is broken then contact screw 29 will be unscrewed.

The screw 29 is thus set at the factory at a predetermined heat deemed most satisfactory, and the adjustment by the housewife is preferably made by turning the screw 28when 'adjustment to her own purpose or desire is required.

When .the screw 28 y upon the resilient contact holder 34 as a lever to press the laminated spring 33 to produce a firmer contactbetween points 37 and 38. By rel nated sprin quickly to t body 1.

The platinum or other lasting points of high fusibility and practically free from carbon are necessary to the success Lof the invention as it is important tha't the device is allowed to respond more e heat radiated from the iron shall not be easily put out of commission;

and without such current at each circuit will so'on ative. j Y

It is also necessary that the contact points be on the' side of the thermo electric spring and thatsuch spring shall vbe constructed and arran d to withdraw its contact point 37 from t e fixed contact point 38 under the bending effect of heat radiated throu h the insulating space between it and t e smoothing iron body so as to avoid the difpolnts the arcing of the make and break of the make the device inoper- V iiculties hereinbefore pointed out.

In practice the eXtensi'onkS is ventilated by openings 46`Iat opposite sides thereof to allow air to pass freely toand from the cor-- .with a thermostatic is screwed in, it .actseasing the screw 28 the lamitact-spring insulating chamber illus-aid eX- tension so as to -insure against destructively heating the spring.

that the thermostatic element may be acted upon by the heat subjected to the 2. In an electric iron the combination with a fiat thermostatic electric contact spring having its sides practically parallel to an adjacent face of the body of the iron; of an insulating block; a housing provided of' the body without being high temperature thereof.

with a chamber in which said block is seated; an adjustable contact point adapted to contact with the spring; and means to move said point to increase and decrease the tension on said spring.

3. In an electric iron the combination electric contact spring; of an insulating block; a housing provided withl a chamber in which said block is seated; a contact screw provided with a contact jpoint adapted to contact with the spring; means to support the contact spring; and a contact spring holder so constructed that itstip contacts with the contact sp-ring and tends to press the Contact spring toward the 'contact screw.

4. In a device of the an adjustable contact post having its contact end provided with a contact point of high f usibility; a supporting post connected to the body of the iron; a thermo electric contact spring supported by said supporting post and said'spring being provided with a contact point of high usibility on the side of the spring and arranged to normally contact with said contact point on said ost.

P 5. The electr`ic smoothing iron set forth, comprising a body having an electrical resistance by which it isheated; a ventilated housing connected to said body, said housing extending rearwardly beyond said body and forming thereby anair chamber; an insulation block fixed to said housing at the lrear said spring adapted to bend under action o character set forth, y

connected in an electrical with a platinumoint heat to withdraw the platinum point thereof away from said contact post to break the circuit when the iron becomes over-heated; and means for applying tension to said sprino'.

6. 'he electric smoothing iron set forth comprising a body having an electrical resistance by which it is heated;a ventilated spaced away from said body and provided with a hole adapted to register with the hole in the rear wall of said extension; a screw bolt passing through the holes of the wall and said block and adapted to secure the block to the wall; two conducting plates secured to said block on the side towardv said body; a contact post inserted through said block and screwed through said plate, said Ipost adjustable away from -or toward said body; a. second contact point inserted through said block and screwed through the second conducting plate; a supporting post extending through said block toward said body; a laminated thermo-electric contact spring mounted on said supporting post and extending to normally close the circuit through said contact post; a resilient spring holder engaging said contact spring to normally press said contact spring toward said Contact post; and means foradjusting said -spring holder to increase or decrease its pressure on said contact spring.

7 The electric smoothing iron'set forth comprising a body having an electrical re` sistance on the surface thereof by which it is heated; a housing fitted to and secured to the top of said body fand enclosing the electrical resistance thereof; an extension integral'with said housing, said extension exmg a c amber and said extension having a rear wall with holes therethrough; an insulation block in. the chamber of said extension said block spaced away from said body and provided with holes that are adapted to register with the holes through the rear wall of said extension; a 'screw bolt passing through a hole ofthe rear wall and block for securing the block to the rear wall; two conducting plates spaced apart and secured to said block on the side opposite to the rear wall and toward said body; a fixed contact post inserted through said block and screwed through one of said plates.; an adjustable contact post inserted through an opening in the rear wall of said extension and said block, and screwed through the other conductingplate; a contact point in the contact end of said adjustable contact post; a supporting post secured to said block; a laminated contact thermo electric spring mounted on said supporting post, said spring arranged to extend through the space between said block andtbody and positioned with its free end adjacent the contact end of said adjustable contact post;`a second contact point mounted on said spring and arranged to normally engage the contact point o n said adjustable post; a spring holder carried by said supporting post and adapted to press the laminated spring toward said adjustable Contact post; and an adjusting screw inserted through a hole in the rear wall of said extension and through said block to regulate the pressure of said spring holder on said laminated spring, said adjustable post and adjusting screw accessible through the holes of the rear wall of said extension for adjust-ing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 1st day of December,'1921. A

LEROY R. BOWLES.

Witness:

JAMES R. TowNsnNn.

tendin rearward ofsaid body and enclos- I 

